VRA ponders Akosombo Dam spillage again!! …seeks to engage stakeholders in catchment areas on excess water spillage

The
Volta
River
Authority
(VRA)
is
preparing
for
a
potential
controlled
spillage
of
excess
water
from
the
Akosombo
Dam
in
the
Eastern
Region.

In
view
of
this,
the
Authority,
has
started
notifying
stakeholders
within
the
catchment
areas
for
an
engagement
on
the
intended
spillage.

A
notice
signed
by
the
Deputy
Chief
Executive
in
Charge
of
Services
at
the
VRA,
Ken
Arthur,
said
the
engagement
was
a
precautionary
measure.

“This
precautionary
measure
is
crucial
to
maintaining
the
structural
integrity
of
the
dam
and
ensuring
the
safety
of
our
communities,”
the
notice
said.

It
said
atengagement,
which
is
yet
to
be
scheduled;
stakeholders
would
discuss
the
impacts
of
the
intended
and
how
to
handle
its
repercussions.

“We
propose
to
engage
you
and
the
relevant
team
to
discuss
the
potential
implications,
mitigate
measures
and
information
dissemination,”
it
said.

The
VRA
emphasised
that
while
the
spillage
is
not
confirmed
yet,
preparing
and
engaging
stakeholders
promptly
is
essential.

According
to
the
distribution
list
attached
to
the
letter
sighted
by
the

Ghanaian
Times
,
about
40
stakeholders
have
been
notified
of
the
impending
engagement.

They
include
the
Minister
for
the
Interior
and
local
assemblies
within
the
catchment
area
of
the
Akosombo
Dam.

In
October
2023,
a
controlled
spillage
of
the
Akosombo
Dam
was
conducted
to
prevent
overflow,
leading
to
the
displacement
of
residents
in
low-lying
areas.

The
most
affected
communities
were
in
the
North
and
Central
Tongu
districts,
with
estimates
indicating
that
over
35,857
people
were
displaced,
and
numerous
homes
and
farmlands
were
destroyed
as
a
result.

The
floods
had
a
significant
impact
on
more
than
30,000
individuals
in
the
North
Tongu
district,
leaving
them
in
desperate
need
of
assistance
from
both
government
agencies
and
charitable
organisations.


BY
TIMES
REPORTER